Eri Sugai

Japanese singer Eri Shugai (pronounced airy soo-gah'-ee) grew up in Osaka and became a professional singer after finishing her schooling at 23. She moved to Tokyo and released her first album, Watashi Wa Genki Davo (which translates as "I'm Fine and So Happy"), in Japan in 1994. But she gained her greatest success as a session singer, especially for commercials. She also made her mark as a songwriter, penning "Dakishimete Destiny" for Eriko Miura and "Anataga Irukara Kokoniiru" for Akane Oda, both of which became Top 40 hits. Her first album to be released in the U.S. was Mai, issued by Pacific Moon Records in January 2001. ~ William Ruhlmann